The Newport boss jokes he will 'lock family out of the house' if they support Man Utd
NEWPORT boss Graham Coughlan has told his Manchester United fanatic family: “Support me or I will lock you out of the house.”
The Welsh team face the biggest match in their history when they host Erik ten Hag's men at the Rodney Parade in a classic David and Goliath FA Cup fourth round tie.
But Irishman Coughlan, 49, has been a lifelong United fan along with most of his family.
But tomorrow he expects them all to cheer on his League Two minnows – and said: “My daughter will support me and the wife better support me – otherwise she's out the door.
'My father and mother will be there, and of course they hope that I will be fine.
“I don't think there will be any split loyalty – I will lock the door on them on Sunday night if they support anyone other than me.”
Although the League Two club has beaten Leicester and pushed Tottenham and Man City all the way on their own pitch in recent years, the clash with United is in a whole new stratosphere – especially for Coughlan.
He said: “Last year I was at the League Cup final with the kids and they gave me one of the best nights of my life in '99 in Barcelona – I saw that in Dublin.
“I saw them win the FA Cup in 1985, I was there when Liverpool also beat them in the League Cup in 1984.
'There are so many. My wife will always accompany me when the big games are coming up, the children will come with me to the league games.
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“I followed United years ago when they couldn't win an argument, let alone a match! It was difficult to be a United fan at that time because Liverpool dominated and I was beaten every day at school.
“But they soon turned that around. They are going through a similar period now and they will get through it, I have no doubt.”
Newport, who are 14th in the fourth tier, have added extra seats to boost capacity for United's visit to just under 10,000, and Coughlan says the atmosphere will be red hot.
He said: “Regardless of whether we have won, lost or drawn this season, our fans have been right behind us and have carried us over the line at times.
“That is unique and a strength of this football club and community.
“You can hear everything on the sidelines, sometimes you don't want to because they are so close. They sit on top of you and there is a unique atmosphere.
“It's hostile, it's loud, and when they start beating the drum it's an atmosphere to enjoy.”
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